INSTITUTES IN SARAWAK

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30339, 15 January 1964, Page 2

INSTITUTES IN SARAWAK

Rapid Growth In First Year Less than a year after the establishment of the Women’s Institute movement in Sarawak, 31 institutes have been formed with a total of 1600 members. This news has been received by the Dominion international officer of Country Women’s Institutes (Mrs C. D. Newton, of Christchurch) frbm the national organiser in Sarawak (Mrs Elizabeth O’Kelly). The institutes there are members of the Associated Country Women of the World. Sarawak members are hoping to establish “link” correspondence with New Zealand institutes. These “links” operate among affiliated organisations throughout the world. Members of institutes in New Zealand learned with regret of the death in Wales toward the end of last year of Mrs Godfrey Drage, M.8.E., J.P., at the age of 87. Mrs Drage was a foundation member of the A.C.W.W. in Britain and a vice-president from 1933 to 1947. She was made one of the first members of honour in 1950. Closely associated with institute work in Caernarvonshire, Mrs Drage suggested the idea of “pennies for friendship,” and presented the scheme to the London conference of the A.C.W.W. After the scheme was accepted most societies throughout the world supported it.

Canterbury institutes are co-operating with the New Zealand Wool board in “Wool Week,” which will be held in Christchurch in March. Members will take part in a woolwinding competition. Other activities will include a fashion parade and a wool air travel competition organised by the Country Girls’ Clubs.